Tag: Ron DeSantis

COVID whistleblower blames Ron DeSantis after cops raid her home: ‘They pointed guns at my kids’

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Former Florida Department of Health (DOH) data scientist Rebekah Jones, who was fired by Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration after refusing to manipulate coronavirus information, says “state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech. They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint. They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a statement confirming the seizure of computer equipment, a report in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper says.

“FDLE began an investigation November 10, 2020 after receiving a complaint from the Department of Health regarding unauthorized access to a Department of Health messaging system which is part of an emergency alert system, to be used for emergencies only,” FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. Continue reading.

Trump furious that he can’t do rallies in COVID-ridden Florida after its GOP governor ‘made it a lot worse’: report

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President Donald Trump is reportedly furious at one of his allies for taking his advice.

According to Vanity Fair’s Gabriel Sherman, the president is angry that he can’t hold any of his trademark campaign rallies in Florida amid its weeks-long surge in COVID-19 cases.

What’s more, Sherman’s sources say Trump is putting the blame for this predicament at the feet of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been eager to follow the president’s commands to reopen state economies even as the country records more than 50,000 infections and 1,000 new deaths from the novel coronavirus every day. Continue reading.

‘Hell, Hug ‘Em!’ Gov. DeSantis Dismisses Social Distancing For Elderly

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday urged people to hug the elderly despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeSantis said that as long as people are wearing personal protective equipment, he sees no reason not to hug people when visiting.

“Look, I’m comfortable with the PPE,” the Republican governor said. “Hell, hug ’em! I mean, come on.” He added that maintaining social distancing of six feet during visits — as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — seems unnecessary because it’s “a reminder that it’s still not normal.” Continue reading.

Coronavirus ravaged Florida, as Ron DeSantis sidelined scientists and followed Trump

Washington Post logoST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Florida became a global epicenter of the coronavirus, Gov. Ron DeSantis held one meeting this month with his top public health official, Scott Rivkees, according to the governor’s schedule. His health department has sidelined scientists, halting briefings last month with disease specialists and telling the experts there was not sufficient personnel from the state to continue participating.

“I never received information about what happened with my ideas or results,” said Thomas Hladish, a University of Florida research scientist whose regular calls with the health department ended June 29. “But I did hear the governor say the models were wrong about everything.”

DeSantis (R) this month traveled to Miami to hold a roundtable with South Florida mayors, whose region was struggling as a novel coronavirus hot spot. But the Republican mayor of Hialeah was shut out, weeks after saying the governor “hasn’t done much” for a city disproportionately affected by the virus. Continue reading.

Florida’s GOP governor intervenes to label WWE an ‘essential business’ during coronavirus outbreak

AlterNet logoRepublican Gov. Ron DeSantis intervened to carve out an exemption for professional wrestling in Florida’s “stay at home” order, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings revealed Monday.

DeSantis, a close ally of President Donald Trump, came under criticism for weeks as he refused calls to issue “stay at home” restrictions in spite of a growing number of coronavirus cases in the Sunshine State. DeSantis ultimately caved and issued such an order on April 3, though he included an exemption for religious services.

World Wrestling Entertainment has been airing events from the empty WWE Performance Center near Orlando. Demings told reporters on Monday that the WWE was not labeled an “essential business” that can continue to operate when the order was first issued, but DeSantis intervened. Continue reading.

Gov. DeSantis Falsely Says Nobody Under 25 Infected By Virus

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is under fire this week for making a false claim that the coronavirus does not affect young people.

It’s the latest blowback for DeSantis, who has been roundly criticized for his refusal to close the state’s beaches, even as spring breakers flocked there amid a growing outbreak.

“This particular pandemic is one where I don’t think nationwide there’s been a single fatality under 25. For whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to threaten, you know, kids,” he told a group of educators on Thursday. Continue reading.

Want to Know More About: Ron DeSantis?

David Ignatius: “What We’re Seeing From Trump Is What We’re Seeing From Ron DeSantis Which Is As Andrew Gillum Said, Using Not Just Dog Whistles But The Bull Horn On Race On Divisive Racial Issues.” IGNATIUS: “In the short term, what we’re seeing from trump is what we’re seeing from Ron DeSantis which is as Andrew Gillum said, using not just dog whistles but the bull horn on race on divisive racial issues. I fear the DeSantis/Gillum race will be a snapshot of our future in which racial issues are more polarized and a history in the Republican party, certainly in the last 20, 30 years of playing the southern card and being subtly exploitative and sometimes not so subtly of racial divisions and Trump understands that and is playing it and is part of his appeal to his base.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 8/30/18; VIDEO]

Elise Jordan: “Let’s Just Look At This On The Face And It Is What It Is And We’re Not Idiots Here. And You Can See What The Intention Was.” JORDAN: “I think that this is the big picture conundrum that we need to look at as a country because we can be told constantly, oh, that wasn’t what he was saying. You’re the one making too much out of it. But let’s just look at this on the face and it is what it is and we’re not idiots here. And you can see what the intention was.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 8/30/18; VIDEO]

Victor Oquendo: “The President Said He Hadn’t Heard The Comments. Instead, He Heaped Praise On DeSantis, Calling Him An Extreme Talent, And Extraordinary In So Many Ways.” DAVID MUIR: “Victor, President Trump was also asked about this late today, those comments from congressman DeSantis? VICTOR OQUENDO: The president said he hadn’t heard the comments. instead, he heaped praise on DeSantis, calling him an extreme talent, and extraordinary in so many ways.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 8/29/18; VIDEO]